Nigeria Needs Bold, Decisive Action To Tackle Numerous Challenges” – Fmr President Obasanjo

By Ayodele Oni

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has  emphasized that it is not the form or system of government that is Nigeria’s problem, but the way things are done.

The former president who said he backed demands of #EndBadGovernance protesters, urged the government to listen to the people’s concerns and stop pretending that everything is fine.

“Our main problem is ourselves. Whether we adopt a single term of six years or two terms of four years, if we maintain the same mentality and approach, nothing will change.

“The real issue is ourselves. Yes, the system needs rethinking, but the character of people in government must change. With all due respect, many in government should currently be behind bars or on the gallows.”

Obasanjo spoke on Friday during a meeting with six members of the House of Representatives at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.

The legislators, who are co-sponsoring bills for a single six-year presidential term, a rotational presidency between the North and South, and rotational governorship among the three senatorial districts in each state, included Abdulmalik Danga (Kogi), Dr. Usman Midala (Borno), Matthew Nwogu (Imo), Peter Aniekwe (Anambra), Kama Nkemkanma (Ebonyi), and Ugochinyere Ikenga (Imo).

He pointed out that Nigeria will not advance towards its goals unless both its leaders and citizens adopt what he referred to as “moral rearmament.”

He also cautioned that Nigeria is teetering on the edge of disaster, warning that without bold and decisive action to tackle its numerous challenges, the situation could become explosive.

Obasanjo characterized Nigeria as a nation that makes “two steps forward, one step aside, and four steps backward.”

Obasanjo lamented that subsequent governments have failed to build on the groundwork he laid, leading to considerable setbacks for the country.

“As I have warned earlier, we should recognise that we are all sitting on a powder keg if we fail to begin doing the right thing. For instance, what the youth are demanding is very legitimate and should be listened to. Why should they be denied what rightfully belongs to them?

“They are frustrated, they are hungry, they are angry, they are unemployed, and they deserve to be heard.

“More than anything else, such as changing our system of government or adopting a single term of six or four years, we must change our ways of doing things. We must reform our thinking and character.

“I wish that succeeding governments had built upon the foundation we laid, even if not as quickly as hoped, but sadly, the blocks we put in place are being removed.

“What I know about Nigeria is that if we get it right — both leadership and team — because one tree does not make a forest, you need a good leader but also a good team for a well-done job.

“If we get it right in about two and a half years, we could overcome some challenges, and in about 10 years, we will have a solid foundation. In about 25 years, we could be there.

“But we always take one step forward, two steps aside, and four steps backward, which is why we are where we are.

“For me, it is not just about the system; we may need to rethink our liberal democracy. In Africa, we often talk about loyal opposition, but what we do is reach a consensus, and then there is no opposition; everyone is on the same page and moves together.

“In many African languages, the word for opposition translates to ‘enemies.’ What do you do with loyal enemies? Once you take power, you claim everything, and the opposition is left in the wilderness. This approach is not beneficial. We need everyone to join hands to advance society.”